Notre Dame implemented the Leprecat offense this season and it paid dividends on the touchdown drive late in the first quarter. The Irish went 80 yards in six plays and 59 came on the ground out of the Leprecat formation. Junior WR Golden Tate had two carries for 43 yards, including a 33-yard run.

Tate capped off a 71-yard, eight play drive with a 16-yard touchdown run, again, out of the Leprecat to give Notre Dame a 16-0 lead early in the second quarter.

NOTRE DAME OFFENSIVE ONSLAUGHT

Notre Dame totaled 592 yards of total offense - the most by an Irish team since Nov. 26, 2005 at Stanford (fourth-most in the Weis era).

The Irish rolled up 255 yards on the ground - the most by an Irish team since Sept. 3, 2005 at Pittsburgh (second-most in the Weis era).

Notre Dame recorded 32 first downs - the most by an Irish team since Sept. 30, 2006 vs. Purdue (third for third-most in the Weis era).

Notre Dame registered 40 points for the 12th time under Weis and first time of the 2009 season.

IRISH DEFENSE DOMINATES

Notre Dame limited Washington State to 206 total yards. The Cougars managed just 102 on the ground and 104 in the air.

QUARTER-BY-QUARTER TEAM NOTES

Notre Dame registered a field goal on its opening possession of the game. The Irish have scored on their opening possession in five of six home games (including tonight's contest) this season. Notre Dame failed to score on the opening drive against USC.

The Irish defense did not allow Washington State a first down until the final play of the first quarter. The Cougars managed just 30 total yards in the opening 15 minutes (19 rushing yards and 11 passing yards).

Notre Dame racked up an astounding 23 first downs, 151 rushing yards, 265 passing yards and 416 total yards in the first half. The Irish also scored 30 points for the first time in a half since totaling 31 in the first half against North Carolina in 2006. Notre Dame averaged a remarkable 9.45 yards per play in the first half.

Junior QB Jimmy Clausen spearheaded an astounding offensive assault in the first half for Notre Dame. He completed 19-of-22 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns in the opening 30 minutes. In fact, Clausen completed 13-of-14 for 204 yards and one touchdown in the second quarter alone. He completed his last 12 passes before halftime.

Junior WR Golden Tate had an equally jaw-dropping first half. The wideout had 82 yards receiving and another 61 on the ground to total 143 all-purpose yards. He also added a 50-yard touchdown reception and 16-yard touchdown rush.

Notre Dame outgained Washington State 416 to 104 in the first half. The Irish ran 44 plays to the Cougars 24.

Clausen finished the afternoon 22-of-27 for 268 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He left the game midway through the third quarter. Clausen has now thrown 124 consecutive passes without an interception. It ranks fifth-best in single-season Irish history. He already posted a streak of 147 passes without an interception (spanning the end of the 2008 season and into the Purdue game of 2009).

Clausen has thrown a touchdown pass in eight straight games. In fact, he has tossed at least two touchdown passes in four consecutive games.

Clausen spearheaded an astounding offensive assault in the first half for Notre Dame. He completed 19-of-22 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns in the opening 30 minutes. In fact, Clausen completed 13-of-14 for 204 yards and one touchdown in the second quarter alone. He completed his last 12 passes before halftime. Clausen threw an incomplete pass to open the second half. The 12 straight completions are tied for third-best in single-game Notre Dame history.

Notre Dame implemented the Leprecat offense this season and it paid dividends on the touchdown drive late in the first quarter. The Irish went 80 yards in six plays and 59 came on the ground out of the Leprecat formation. Tate had two carries for 43 yards on the drive, including a 33-yard run.

Tate capped off a 71-yard, eight play drive with a 16-yard touchdown run, again, out of the Leprecat to give Notre Dame a 16-0 lead early in the second quarter.

The rushing touchdown was his second of the season and third of his career. The touchdown was also Tate's 10th overall of the season and 22nd of his career, including both rushing and receiving.

Tate hauled in a spectacular 50-yard touchdown pass on the final play of the first half to give Notre Dame a 30-7 lead. The touchdown was Tate's first receiving score of the game and second of the game overall.

Tate has registered three consecutive games with two or more touchdowns.

Tate has already registered 34 catches that have resulted in first downs. He also has 13 receptions of over 20 yards, including eight over 30 yards. Tate has now recorded 36 receptions of at least 20 yards and 25 catches have gained at least 30 yards over his career.

Tate finished the game with four receptions for 80 yards and one touchdown. He failed to become the first Irish player to record four straight 100-yard games since Tom Gatewood set the school record with five consecutive 100-yard receiving games in 1970.

He has eclipsed 120 all-purpose yards seven times in 2009 and 15 times over his Irish career.

Tate moved past Jim Seymour (1966-68) into seventh place on the Irish career receiving yards list. He also moved past Tony Hunter (1979-82) into ninth place on the Notre Dame career receptions list.

Connected on a 29-yard field goal with 9:44 to go in the first quarter to give Notre Dame a 3-0 lead.

Added a second field goal of the game. Gave the Irish a 33-7 lead with 3:16 remaining in the third quarter.

After missing the first field goal attempt of his career at Michigan, Tausch has now connected on 14 consecutive field goals - a Notre Dame school record. The previous school record was held by Mike Johnston, who made 13 straight during the 1982 season.